Paid Sick and Spousal Leave Resolution

Whereas Democratic Municipal Officials has established good jobs, including fair wages and working conditions, as one of its policy priorities;

Whereas the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act only partially addresses the needs of the modern American workforce and family;

Whereas Senator Gillibrand’s FAMILY Act provides a superior national model for sick leave and paid parental leave, including support for young, part time, and low wage workers;

Whereas workers who are forced to come to work when ill can spread disease and reduce productivity because they are not afforded sick leave, cannot take unpaid time off for available sick leave, or are employed in a work environment that indirectly retaliates against the use of paid time off;

Whereas the United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee sick leave, and one of only two countries in the world that do not offer paid maternity leave;

Whereas women exit the workforce because they are forced to choose between caring for an infant and keeping their current jobs, creating a systemic disparity in lifetime earnings and career advancement between the sexes;

Whereas businesses have benefited from paid leave through improved worker retention, increased productivity and morale, and a greater ability to compete with international companies that already offer paid leave;

Therefore be it resolved that Democratic Municipal Officials supports paid sick and parental leave, distinct from other paid time off, including state and national legislation that improves upon current paid leave programs and standards.

Further that we encourage local officials to take action on paid sick and parental leave in their own cities, including in the following ways:

Speak with local businesses and chambers of commerce about their own needs, as well as the benefits of paid sick and spousal leave;

Institute a payroll-supported paid parental leave fund for city employees and for businesses who contract with the city using the legislation models provided by California, New Jersey, and the FAMILY Act;

Provide your state with research detailing the economic costs passed on to taxpayers by not implementing paid sick and parental leave;

For cities preempted by state laws that prevent sick and spousal leave, pass municipal resolutions, inform the public about the benefits they are being denied, and work with Democratic state legislators to repeal laws that block progress on paid leave.